English Reference
Idiom idiom

run around like a chicken with its head cut off


To act in a haphazard or aimless way; to act frantically or without control.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

Stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

CONTEXTUAL

The office was chaotic, and everyone was running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to finish the report.

COMPLEX

Without a clear plan, the team spent the entire afternoon running around like a chicken with its head cut off, accomplishing nothing of value.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    and the like

    And other similar items; et cetera.

  2. 02

    bang one's head against a brick wall

    To waste effort on a futile project.

  3. 03

    bang some heads together

    Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.

  4. 04

    bash someone's head

    To beat up someone violently.

  5. 05

    be like

    To say.

  6. 06

    big head

    An inflated ego, an exaggerated belief in one's own importance.

  7. 07

    bite someone's head off

    To severely berate someone.

  8. 08

    blow someone's head off

    To shoot someone in the head.

Last updated August 10, 2026